Will Facelift Surgery Make Me Look Unnatural?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in facelift surgery. I am 55 yrs old and have been single for twenty years. I want to finally get to the place were I feel wonderful about me. I do not want to look like a different person with a drastic change. Is it really possible to have the face procedures to look younger/fresher and still be me? Seriously, I hate what I see on TV from even Hollywood stars who have all the financial resources I could not even imagine.

A: Despite what you see from Hollywood celebrities, that is not the way the vast majority of facelift procedures turnout. Unlimited financial resources do not necessarily allow one to make better choices, often the reverse is true. Being able to do anything doesn’t always mean you should. It is also important to understand that those who are in the spotlight on a continual basis face a whole different set of pressures from an appearance standpoint than you and I do. Lastly the face and body standards in Beverly Hills and Hollywood where most of what you see comes from is much different than here in the Midwest. Just walk around those areas and you will see what I mean.

The reality about facelifts and other facial rejuvenation procedures is the opposite of what you think. It is almost never an issue of ‘doing too much’ but can enough results be achieved to make the patient happy. When it comes to facelift procedures, no one ends up looking like a different person. The key is to do the right combination of facial rejuvenation procedures in a judicious manner that makes one look better and younger and not ‘overdone’.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana